Fertilizer distributor



' June 3, 1952 J. P. M MILLAN FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTOR Filed Jan. 14, 1950 0 INVENTOR.

AT TORN EY'S Patented June 3, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FERTILIZER DISTRIBUTOR John P. McMillan, Kosciusko, Miss.

Application January 14, 1950, Serial No. 138,591

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to an apparatus for the distribution of earth fertilizing material and is particularly adapted for distribution of solid material to adjacent rows of plowed fields for the purpose of improving the plant-nourishing qualities of the earth in such fields.

It has been proposed to provide a tank with straps so that it may be hung from a man's shoulder to rest against his side, the tank having a single spout for dispensing fertilizer material'from the tank to the ground alongside theoperators feet as he walks along the rows of aplowed field. It has further been proposed to provide a valve in such a spout for control by the hand of the operator so that the amount of fertilizer to be distributed may be controlled by the operator. However, such an apparatus has the disadvantage that the operator cannot readily see how much fertilizer he is distributing to the row being fertilized; Another disadvantage is that the tank will constantly strike the side of the operator as he progresses along the rows of the field, adding to his discomfort and interfering with the ease of operation of the apparatus.

The fertilizer distributer of the present invention overcomes these disadvantages of the earlier apparatus and also provides other advantages tending toward greater ease of use and more efficient distribution than is possible with distributers of the prior art.

In accordance with the present invention, a tank for a supply of fertilizer has shoulder straps attached to opposite sides of one face of the tank so that the tank may be easily and comfortably carried against an operators back. The fertilizing material is distributed from the tank through two downspouts, one extending from each side of the tank and forwardly and downwardly so that the fertilizer is directed somewhat ahead of the operator as he walks between adjacent rows of a field, and within his range of vision.

The invention will be further described in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the distributer of the present invention mounted on an 'operators back, as when in use.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the apparatus, and

Fig. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view of 2 one of the discharge spouts taken along line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, a tank i constitutes a supply receptacle for fertilizer to be distributed and has a front side 2 curved generally to conform to the outline of an operator's back upon which it is adapted to be mounted. Supporting straps 3 and 3' for supporting the tank from the shoulders of an operator are attached to the curved front side 2 adjacent its vertical side edges. As shown in the drawings, the straps comprise upper sections 4 and 4 secured at 5 and 5' in any suitable manner adjacent the upper edges of the front wall 2, and lower sections 6 and 6' similarly attached at 1 and 1' adjacent the lower edge of the front wall 2. The free ends of the upper and lower strap sections are adjustably connected by buckles 8 and 8' so that the length of each strap may be adjusted to most comfortably support the tankupon the back of the particular operator. If desired, straps of fixed length secured at their ends to upper and lower portions of the tank may be used instead of the adjustable straps just described.

The lower portion of the tank I is centrally bifurcated to provide downwardly and outwardly curved ducts 9 and 9, one extending toward and beyond each side of the side walls of the tank. The outer protruding ends of the ducts 8 and 8' connect with hollow downspouts l0 and Ill. The downspouts include upper forwardlyand downwardly-extending portions H and II and lower substantially vertical sections l2 and I2 which are of such length that their lower ends will be positioned close to the ground when the tank is secured upon the back of a person of average height. While the downspouts may be of any desired shape in cross section, I prefer that they be generally rectangular as the flat bottom wall thereby provided permits a somewhat better control of the fertilizer flowing therethrough, as hereinafter described, and also enables the fertilizer to be discharged in more or less sheet-like form.

The curved ducts 9 and 9' extend sufficiently beyond the opposite sides of the tank that the space between thedownspouts I0 and I0 is sufficiently wide to enable-an operator to stand between them comfortably.

The top walls of the upper portions l I and i I of the downspouts are provided with openings or slots l3 and I3 of appropriate size and shape to enable the hands of an operator to extend through them for the purpose of controlling the flow of fertilizer through the downspouts. The openings or slots l3 and I3 preferably are formed in the lower end portions of the portions II and II, where they are most convenient to the operator.

In order that the flow of fertilizer from the tank through the downspouts may be prevented when the apparatus is not in use, or when otherwise not desired bythe operator, cut-ofi valves, here shown' as "gate valves I4 and M"; extend througlfthe'top wall'of each downspout upstream from the openings or slots I3 and IS. The gate valves may be of any suitable form and may beheld in their open and closed positions respec-w tively, frictionally or otherwise.

In operation of the apparatus; the 'operator' first closes the gate valves Land; 14 to .pr e.vent

flow of fertilizer through the downspouts and then fills the tank I with the fertilizing rrraterial" to be distributed. The tank then is positioned uponi:hisback; "with one of the shoulderxstraps being passed over each of his shoulders. The lengths of "the straps then are adjusted,- td support the tankion the back ofthe roperator -inv the most comfortable" position. The operator? then o'pens the 'gate valves i-4-and-. l4 and: inserts-his fingers r through: the openings or:-slots-:- i 3-iand 13f and with themcontrols the:amount of" tfm agfeirtilizer which ispermitted to-1iow .from: the; upper portions of the downspouts to theverticallyextending lower 'portions, from which the. fertilizer 'drops onto the ground. or along; the rows betweenwhich'the'operator'maybe walking.- Any lumps-win the fertilizer.- may be readily; broken with 'ithe fihgers-"offlthe operator so that the fertiiiz'er alivays iisrdistributed in the form of finelydivided discreteparticles.

- Asiithe downspouts extend. forwardly from the tanka'intdthe operatorfs -range-of :vision; he may watch rthe fertilizer" as' it is discharged from the lower ends-of thEdOWIlSDOUtSi andcontrol the amount of fertilizersupplied at any time with his hands; thereby "enabling" a greater or less amount ofthe fertilizer" to lbe: distributed as may 7 be required by the particular portionoflthe row or 'g'rourrdzbeing fertilized. By having thetankfimonritable upon*-.the.-.oper ators -ba'ekanddownspouts extendingtherefrom at each side, it may? easily 7' and comfortably be carried bythepperator-an'd' adjacent rowszof the fielwfertili'zedsimultaneously; and in accordance with the' needs of each-particular row.

While the-invention; has been. described as -paretieular-ly' adaptedifor the-distribution. of fertilizer.

' it is to' be understood that iit is equally adapted for thefliis'tri'butiorrofany other material-1' Which it m ay be desired- "to spread along adjacent 1 rows or*porti0n'sof the ground.

wardlya 'di'stance'sufiic'ie'nt that arr operator carrying the tank on his back readily may observe the manner in which fertilizer is discharged from the-lower-end of the downspout, said downspout having an opening in its upper side of sufiicient sizethat an-"operator may insert hi hand therethrough into the downspout to control the amount offertilizer discharged from the tank, and a i valves-in the downspout between the opening therein and the tank operable to prevent flow of fertilizer-through the, downspout. 7

2.v A fertilizer distributor -r comnr siinsrae tank adapted to be carried agamstanoperators hack. aepair of downspouts extending .downwardly; and forwardly, one from each, side or. thef through which fertilizer may rberdischarged said downspoutsbeingspaced: apart a distanceesufiicient to receive an operators' bod-yQand extend: ing forwardly a distance sufiicientthatanopcra: tor carrying- ;theJ-tankon his back may; readily observe the mannerin which fertilizer: isldisrcharged from the lower ends of. thetdownspouts, eachof said downspoutsshavingean openingjm its upper-side of-sufilcientsizerthat amciperator may-insert his,handtherethioufih. i to. thendownv spout to a control, the amount of fertilizer. .dis: charged-from. thertank, and aivalveg ineachpt the downspouts between; the, opening therein and the tank operable-to prevent: flowiof fertilizer throu h the downspouts. .7

JOHN P. j

REFERENCE '1 CITED" The following references-areof recordvin the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES? PATENTS;

Number. 7 Name Date;

v216,4:23 Lewis iJuneIO, 1&79 1 260,373 Erwin Julian; 1832 545,480 Frost $8912.23; 1395 714,051 Spitzenberg. ,Noy.118. .1902 FOREIGN PATENTS Number. Country Date 1071312 Australia V Apr: 23711939 

